Can I please get some tobacco suggestions?

[flawless51]

Hi all! I made a post here a while back, mentioning how I ordered my first pipe (a Savinelli Dry System). Well today it finally arrived - looks great! I had to lurk around the forums here for a while to come to my pipe buying decision, so I thank you for that.

Now I need my first pipe tobacco, and I'm new to this. I've tried out many types of cigarettes and cigars, and I don't like anything with that spicy/peppery taste that some [cigars] have. So if there is any tobacco out there that has little of this, that would be great. I'm not a fan of bitter, heavy smoke either, and I prefer cigars that have more of a plant-material type taste, rather than a roasted taste... so all in all, it's sounding like I'm looking for something fairly light and sweet - and hopefully still somewhat flavourful.

Should be simple enough, but I still want it to smell masculine, rather than having a floral or fruit smell. So no vanilla flavours or anything like that either. I'd like it to have a proper, masculine smell rather than to smell like an air freshener or something

Is the right tobacco for me out there? Any suggestions?

Thanks!!

[commonsenseman]

I would suggest a Virginia tobacco. Give Full Virginia Flake by Samuel Gawith a try, it's delicious.

[Pipe Organist]

We all have our prejudices, as you can well-imagine.

It sounds to me like you'd do well with one of the Mac Baren blends like Golden Extra, Dark Twist Roll Cake or Navy Flake. These are all fairly mild in flavor, have a very subtle natural sweetness to them, but aren't cloying like a vanilla or cherry aromatic. Rubbing them out helps with packing and burning, but that's a personal preference.

The common complaint with Mac B blends is that they bite if smoked too aggressively. This is true, but learning to smoke them slowly and gently brings its own rewards.

What I like about the blends I've mentioned is that they're mild and fairly consistent in flavor throughout the bowl. You'll read in reviews that some people complain that the flavor is "flat", but sometimes a nice simple smoke is all one wants. My experience is that they burn cleanly and evenly and don't leave goop or sludge in the bottom of the bowl. The standard combination in many Mac B blends is Virginias, burleys and their "signature" cavendish, which is naturally sweet from the sugars in the leaf, without added toppings.

Best of luck in your search! It's a great adventure, and exploring is half the fun of kapnismology.

[WWhermit]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

I would suggest a Virginia tobacco. Give Full Virginia Flake by Samuel Gawith a try, it's delicious.

This was going to be my suggestion as well.

If you don't like the "peppery" taste, stay away from tobaccos that contain perique, usually VaPer (virginia and perique) blends. Straight virginias are fine. FVF, like most straight virginias, smells and tastes like freshly cut hay.

Enjoy, keep asking questions. You'll always get an answer here.

WWhermit

[Mitch]

I would suggest doing the newbie sampler trade. This way you don't spend $10 on a tin, to find out it's not for you. You buy a experienced smoker a 50 or 100 gram tin, and they send you 5 or 10 samples (Depending on what size tin you got them). I just did this, and I am vary happy with the results of it. I also hang at my local B&M, and they give me samples (I came home tonight with three different blends from one of the workers at the smoke shop).

I do like MacBaren, and I don't want to go against the other suggestion, but it does bite (And I really try to smoke slow). I would hate for your first experience to be a bad one. I wouldn't shy away from it as they have amazing tobacco, just try something different to get started IMO.

Newbie trade forum
http://www.puff.com/forums/vb/wts-b-...-pipes-96.html

[dajones]

Or makey friends at the local B&M.

Every time I head on over to LJ Peretti or DP Ehrlich I make sure I sample a bowl or two (uh, just make sure you actually buy stuff from them too, courtesy and all that...).

[Old_Salt]

Several good starters:

Rattray's Marlin Flake
McConnell's Scottish Cake
From GL Pease: Fillmore, Union Square

and for an intro to an English blend that wont knock over a beginner try GLP
Westminster

[WWhermit]

Originally Posted by Old_Salt

Several good starters:

Rattray's Marlin Flake
McConnell's Scottish Cake
From GL Pease: Fillmore, Union Square

and for an intro to an English blend that wont knock over a beginner try GLP
Westminster

Both Scottish Cake and Fillmore contain perique, which he probably wouldn't enjoy, since he doesn't like the "peppery taste."

The others would be a good introduction, however.

WWhermit

[wrapper23]

Just go through the lists of GL Pease or Cornell & Diehl and pick out names you like. Then go to tobaccoreviews.com to see what people say about that name. It's a fun way to get a footing when starting out.

My very first bowl was GLP Cairo and it is still one of my favorite tobaccos. Same with Fillmore (anyone remember the Fillmore's East and West?). I picked them out just 'cause I liked the names. Cairo is interesting in that it changes as your palate develops. It's never too harsh. Just a pleasant, all around smoke with a slightly nutty, oriental flavor.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by commonsenseman

I would suggest a Virginia tobacco. Give Full Virginia Flake by Samuel Gawith a try, it's delicious.

Union Square too, and maybe the latest Christmas Cheer.

[Vrbas]

My first tobacco and still at my side 99% of the time.... Lane's BCA. Believe me, it's the perfect starter smoke. It's presentation is intimidating w/ it's all black appearance and wet moister content. However, once dried out and lit up, it's such a creamy and "pancakey" smoke. Incredibly easy and smooth.

Yeah, it's an aromatic but just because you smoke aromatics doesn't make you a pussy. It's like the kids that make fun of you because you choose a tasty rum runner over piss-tasting beer, which i guess proves your a man if you drink it.

[Vrbas]

If you want a masculine smoke, try 1792 or Irish Flake. Not the newbie smoke, but definitely masculine in their own right.

I will second Full Virginia Flake, and i would also suggest some Christmas Cheer, just make sure you let it sufficiently dry out.

[Old_Salt]

Originally Posted by WWhermit

Both Scottish Cake and Fillmore contain perique, which he probably wouldn't enjoy, since he doesn't like the "peppery taste."

The others would be a good introduction, however.

WWhermit

yah! I went with those 2 since I find them fairly mild compared to Escudo,
which is really Peppery.

[cp478]

I would go with the full viginia flake or maybe macbarens golden extra.

[Mister Moo]

Originally Posted by flawless51

Hi all! ...Now I need my first pipe tobacco, and I'm new to this...

All this flake talk is about great stuff but, if this is your first shot out of the box, try a pouch of Carter Hall or Prince Albert to get going. It tastes good, smells great and it's very easy to fill, light and tamp. It follows all the "rules" about how to fill and light a pipe. Carter Hall - an American Favorite for over (I don't know how many) Years. The Fillmore is another very good, easy smoke.

Flakes... they ARE the best, but, not always the best to start with. I started with a flake (Escudo, still my all time favorite) but the experience set me back with weeks of frustrations, plugged bowls, bad burns, too-rubbed, not rubbed enough, hard-to-lights... I'm just saying, flakes aren't the easiest way to fill a bowl and start off with an enjoyable smoke unless you are a pipe mutant.